Electrical test device and method

Abstract

An electrical test device may include a power supply, a conductive probe element, and a spectral analysis block. The power supply may be connected to an external power source. The conductive probe element may be connected to the power supply and may be configured to be energized by the power supply. The probe element may be configured to be placed in contact with an electrical system under test and apply an input signal containing current for measuring at least one parameter of the electrical system. The spectral analysis block may be connected to the probe element and may be configured to receive an output signal from the electrical system in response to the application of the current to the electrical system. The spectral analysis block may be configured to analyze frequency spectra of the output signal and detect a broadband increase in energy of the frequency spectra above a predetermined energy threshold. The broadband increase in energy may be representative of the occurrence of arcing in the electrical system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical test device adapted to apply current to an electrical system during measurement of a plurality of parameters, comprising:
 a power supply connected to an external power source; 
 a conductive probe element configured to be energized by the power supply, the probe element being configured to be placed in contact with an electrical system and apply to the electrical system an input signal containing current for measuring at least one parameter of the electrical system; and 
 a spectral analysis block connected to the probe element and being configured to perform the following:
 receive an output signal from the electrical system in response to application of the input signal; 
 analyze a frequency spectra of the output signal, the frequency spectra having a low-frequency portion and a high-frequency portion and containing energy contributed by the periodic and non-periodic signals, 
 analyze the low-frequency portion and detect the potential occurrence of arcing in the electrical system when the energy contributed by the non-periodic signals in the low-frequency portion exceeds a predetermined energy threshold, 
 responsive to the energy in the low-frequency portion exceeding the predetermined energy threshold, detect the occurrence of arcing in the electrical system when the energy in the high-frequency portion exceeds the energy threshold. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical test device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an indicating device coupled to the spectral analysis block and being configured to indicate the occurrence of the arcing in the electrical system when the energy in the high-frequency portion exceeds the energy threshold. 
 
     
     
       3. The electrical test device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the test device is programmable with a low-frequency energy threshold and a high-frequency energy threshold; and 
 the spectral analysis block being configured to analyze the high-frequency portion for arcing in the electrical system using the high-frequency energy threshold after the spectral analysis block detects the potential occurrence of arcing during analysis of the low-frequency portion using the low-frequency energy threshold. 
 
     
     
       4. The electrical test device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a processor coupled to the spectral analysis block and being configured to halt the application of current to the electrical system when the energy of the high-frequency portion exceeds the predetermined energy threshold. 
 
     
     
       5. The electrical test device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the output signal is in the form of at least one of the following: a voltage signal, a power signal. 
 
     
     
       6. The electrical test device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the test device is configured to sequentially measure at least two of the following parameters without user intervention during the application of current to the electrical system: DC voltage, DC current, AC voltage, frequency, resistance. 
 
     
     
       7. A method of detecting arcing in an electrical system, comprising the steps of:
 placing a conductive probe element in contact with an electrical system; providing power to the conductive probe element from an external power source; 
 applying an input signal to the electrical system, the input signal containing current; 
 receiving an output signal from the electrical system in response to the application of the input signal to the electrical system; 
 analyzing a frequency spectra of the output signal, the frequency spectra having a low-frequency portion and a high-frequency portion and containing energy contributed by the periodic and non-periodic signals; 
 analyzing the low-frequency portion and detecting the potential occurrence of arcing in the electrical system when the energy contributed by the non-periodic signals in the low-frequency portion exceeds a predetermined energy threshold; and 
 responsive to the energy in the low-frequency portion exceeding the predetermined energy threshold, detecting the occurrence of arcing in the electrical system when the energy in the high-frequency portion exceeds the energy threshold. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of:
 halting the application of current to the electrical system when the energy of the high-frequency portion exceeds the predetermined energy threshold. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of:
 measuring at least one of the following parameters during the detection of arcing in the electrical system: circuit continuity, resistance, voltage, current, load impedance, and frequency. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of:
 continuously sampling the output signal during the application of current to the electrical system; and 
 sequentially measuring at least two of the parameters without user intervention during the application of current to the electrical system.